5 Killer Franchise Consumer Websites

Yesterday, we told you about five of the best franchise development websites, selected by Michael Palm, Senior Project Manager, Digital at franchise marketing and PR agency No Limit Agency* [No Limit Agency is a sister company to 1851 Franchise]. Today, we’re shifting our focus to the industry’s other essential web offering, highlighting five of Palms favorite franchise consumer websites.

While the importance of strong development websites is still woefully underestimated by many brands, the franchise industry has long appreciated the value of a good consumer website. Many franchises see their consumer sites as the face of their brand, and that can create a pressure to make your website stand out from the crowd.

That instinct is not inherently misguided, but Palm says it can lead a brand to do too much with their website. “Too many brands are trying to throw everything they can think of into their site,” and that can result in a cluttered experience that makes it too difficult for the user to find the information they were looking for.

Palm advocates for simple, streamlined sites that are both visually appealing and easy to navigate. Here are five of his favorites.

1. Anytime Fitness

Palm: This is a great example of a really cleanly designed consumer site. It’s designed in a way that makes all of the information easily navigable and digestible. Note the simple headlines, compelling photography, and clear and engaging icons. The calls to action are clear and prominent, and there’s a location finder right in the center of the home-page, which is likely what the majority of users are looking for.

2. Orange Theory

Palm: This an extremely visually compelling website. The first thing you see is the hero videos, which are really attractive and immediately encourage engagement. There is beautiful photography throughout the website, and I’m a big fan of the Instagram feed at the bottom of the homepage, with complements the visual design while also encouraging user engagement and providing consumer validation.

3. Massage Envy

Palm: This is another clean and clear site where everything is laid out in a way that is easy to read and easy to navigate. I love the use of white space, which provides the sort calm, peaceful aesthetic that the brand is going for. The primary call to action is the “Schedule Appointment” button, and that’s locked in the top bar when you scroll through the page, so it’s always accessible.

4. Cousins Subs

Palm: This is a great, dynamic design for a brand that is trying to do a lot, but not too much, with their site. The hero slider is a great way of showcasing rotating promotions, so the website can be updated quickly and frequently without changing the design, and the online ordering function is front and center and easy to use, which is extremely important for any brand that offers online ordering.

5. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK*

Palm: This one has a really strong use of menus and icons to streamline navigation. I love the drop-down menus in the top navigation bar and the “Free Quote” button as a primary call to action in the center of the homepage. This is just a great user experience all the way through